Liquid gauging device



Aug. 18, `1942.

INVENTOR LEVI HANKINS F/az E R HANKINS 2| Zag ATI'OEQS,

,Aug;1s, 194z. LHANKINS my 2,293,137

LIQUID GAUGING DEVICE Filed :April 3, 1959 2`Sheets-'Sheet 2 r4 LIB lNvEN-roR LEVI HANKINS E. R. HANKlNs Patented Aug. 418, 1942y UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE y l l uQUln nevica i i Levi Bankins and Emmet R.

Hankins, Pasadena,

Tex., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation ol' Delaware Application April 3, 1939, semi No. 265,833

3 claim. (ci. 'i3-322).

' 'I'his invention relates to gauging devices and more particularly to gauging devices which are especially adaptable for use in determining the volumetric contents of volatile liquids in closed containers. The description of the invention will,

i for the purposes of this specic'ation, be confined to embodiments which are applicable to` tank cars. While our invention may be advantageously employed in connection with tank cars con-v the dome cover of a tank car on two separate oc- I casions for each shipment in order to measure the contents of the car. .The loaded car is first gauged prior to shipment to enable the shipper to determine the amount of volatile liquid being shipped. The car is again gauged at its destination by the receiver. In each instance after the dome cover has been removed, a. gauging stick is lowered into the open domejuntil it rests on the bottom of the car. A thermometer is also inserted through the open dome and immersed in the correct temperature indication. With the reading on the stick and the temperature thus determined, the gauger then ascertains the volume corresponding thereto by reference to suitable tables. The above procedure necessitates the dome being open to the atmosphere for appreciable periods of time, during which considerable losses are incurred by evaporation of the liquid and escape to the atmosphere of' gases thus formed, as well as the gas already in the car. These losses become costly, over a, period of time. In addition, open domes in tank cars are a constant hazard for many volatile liquids as there is always present in such cases the danger of explosion and injury to the health and Well being of the individual engaged in gauging the car.

The use of the instant invention eliminates i the expensive losses and the hazards vto life and property experienced in the past. By its use there is no necessity for opening the dome cover to measure the contents of the car. Instead, both the liquid level and the temperature of the liquid may be readily ascertained from the out-` side of the car. i

The primarybbject of this invention is to prevent gas losses while measuring the volume of volatile liquids in normallyclosed containers.

liquid for a suiiicient length of time to obtain a gauging device which is adaptable to be safely used in a positive and` dependable manner for ascertaining the volume of volatile liquids in a closedcontainer. Y

'I'hese and other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description and annexed drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation view partly in cross section, illustrating@ preferred embodiment of the invention mounted in a tank car;

Figure 2 is a horizontal Lcross section view taken along line 2 2 ofjigure 1; v

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and i Figure 4 is a perspective view of the safety cover hinge plate and bracket.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, and 3, We have denoted therein a conventional type of tank car having a main body or shell I0 and a dome II. A cylindrical gauge chamber I2, which extends into the main body of the car, is supported adjacent the inner surface of the' vertical wall of the dome by means of suitable brackets I3 which are preferably welded to both the chamber and the domewall. In the interests of safety, accessibility and convenience this chamber is positioned-so that the gauge glass, to be hereinafter described, faces the front or rear of the car rather than the side. Inside the gauge chamber and free to move vertically therethrough is a float gauge which consists of a-buoyant base I4, a gauge rod I5 supported thereon, and a gauge arm I6 at right angles to the gauge rod. A pair of channel-shaped guiding members I'I are Welded to the inner surface of the float chamber lto receive the ends of gauge arm 4 I6 and maintain the movement ot the `float gauge as a whole along a predetermined v path. An annular ring I8 is hinged at I9 to the tained in position by means of a clasp 20. Ring I8, when in the positionillustrated, serves as a stop to restrict the downward movement of the oat gauge. 'I'he hinge at I9 is to allow for the ready removal or insertion of the float gauge. in the chamber. l

Both the gauge chamber and the dome` are provided with a rectangular opening as indicated by reference numeral 2|, in order that the position of the float gauge may be observed from outside the car. Circumscribing this opening on the outer surface of the dome is a frame orgasket seat 22 which is welded tofthe dome.' A second frame 23, having the same size rectangular open- Another object of this invention is to provide `a lng as frame 22 and supported in proper alignment by a series of stud bolts 24, retains gauge glass 25 over opening 2| in the car dome. A pair of suitable gaskets 26vand 21 is placed between the gauge glass and the corresponding frame to form a. hermeti'cal seal between the edges of the dome opening 2l and the gauge glass. In this manner, objectionable gas and liquid-leakage, which might otherwise occur at the dome opening, are fully prevented. The gauge glass is fabricated of a heavy transparent plate glass of sufficient strength to withstand any pressure that may develop in the car. The glass is graduated so' that the dome innage or outage may be readily ascertained by merely observing the positionvof arm i6 which serves as a reading bar in this embodiment of our invention.

In order to determine the temperature of the liquid contentsvof the car, we have provided a thermometer well 28 which consists of a tube having good heat conducting properties. The lower end of thetube is welded to the bottom of the car while the upper end projects through the car dome at a point adjacent the gauge glass. The tube is blocked oi at 29 near the center of the main body of the car and a column of light oil 30 is supported thereabove so that a thermometer 3| may be inserted in the tube and immersed in the oil for the purpose of obtaining a true temperaturereading of the liquid contents of the car. A readily removable closure 32 seals off the upper end of the thermometer well.

A safety cover 33 is employed in the instant invention to protect the gauge glass and the exposed end of the thermometer well against damage. This cover is supported in closed position through the cooperation of a heavy frame 34 which is welded to the dome and a plurality of swing bolts 35 which are connected to frame 34 and engage with slots 36. A gasket 31 is placed between the safety` cover and its supporting fr;` me to exclude moisture, dustand dirt from the in terior of the cover while it is in closed position. A hinge plate 38, slotted at 39 to receive a swing bolt, is attached to the safety cover by means of rivets through holes 40 and is formed at its lower end into a bead 4I which engages with the central portion of a hinge bracket 42.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of our present invention will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention asdeiined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A liquid gauging device for closed containers comprising a chamber mounted in the container; a pair of substantially vertical groovect guide members in the chamber; a float gauge in the chamber; said float gauge including a base, a gauge rod supported thereupon and a gauge arm connected to the gauge rod and having its ends slidably cooperating lwith the grooved guide members for maintaining the movement of the oat gauge along a predetermined path; a stop removably connected to the lower portion of the chamber; and'means for observing the position of the float gauge. from the exterior of the container.

2. A liquid gauging device for closed containers comprising a chamber mounted in the container; a float gauge in the chamber; said float gauge including a base, a gauge rod supported thereupon and a gauge arm connected to the gauge rod; guide means within the chamber cooperating with the gauge arm and permitting substantially vertical lineal movement of the float gauge but preventing rotational movement thereof about a vertical axis; and means for observing the position of the float gauge from the exterior of the container.

3. A liquid gauging device for closed containers comprising a chamber mounted in the container; a float gauge in the chamber; said float gauge including a base. a gauge rod supported thereupon and a gauge arm connected to the gauge rod; guide means within the chamber cooperating with the gauge arm and permitting substantially vertical lineal .movement of the iioat gauge but preventing rotational movement thereof about a vertical axis; a stop removably connected to the lower portion of the container; and means for observing the position of the float gauge from the exterior of the container.

LEVI HANKINS. EMMET R. HANKINS. 

